CHAPTER 6: THE FILE NO ONE EXPECTED
CHAPTER 6: THE FILE NO ONE EXPECTED
Later that afternoon, Hale entered the offices of the Financial Crimes Division.
Boxes of documents covered an entire conference table.
Agent Rebecca Lin greeted him.
"I didn't expect to see your name attached to this case."
Hale smiled slightly.
"I was about to say the same thing."
Rebecca opened a thick investigation file.
"For eight months we've been tracking several companies that appear legitimate."
"They move money."
"Small amounts."
"Repeatedly."
"Then the funds disappear overseas."
She slid a photograph across the table.
It showed David attending a charity gala.
"He serves as a financial consultant."
"Officially."
"But his signature appears on documents connected to at least four corporations under investigation."
Hale studied the photograph.
"Do you believe he's the mastermind?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"No."
"I think he's a middleman."
Another agent entered carrying a sealed evidence envelope.
"We've completed the preliminary review of the devices seized this morning."
Hale looked up.
"You found something?"
"Not what we expected."
Inside David's office computer was an encrypted folder.
Its title contained only two letters.
R.M.
No one could open it.
Not yet.
Before anyone could speculate further, Rebecca's phone rang.
She answered.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What?"
She stood.
"Repeat that."
The room became silent.
She slowly lowered the phone.
"The storage unit we've been monitoring..."
She looked directly at Hale.
"It's empty."
"Someone cleared it out less than thirty minutes ago."
Hale's eyes narrowed.
"That information wasn't public."
Rebecca nodded grimly.
"Which means one thing."
"They knew we were coming."
Across the city, an unmarked van disappeared into the evening traffic.
Inside, a masked driver glanced briefly at a locked metal case resting on the passenger seat.
The case bore only two engraved letters.
R.M.
May you like
The driver smiled.
Then accelerated toward the interstate.
